Vacuum-cleaner.



Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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i operations by the vacuum system which upon nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHER E. CLIFTON AND WORTH W. PRESTON, 0F COKNERSVILLE, INDIANA, AS-

srenons 'ro UNITED-vacuum APBLIANCE COMPANY, or new YORK, n. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Vacuum-Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

The ob ect of the present invention 15 130 produce a machine for performlng cleaning the'cessation of any particular cleaning operation 'will automatically discharge the waste material or cleaningswhich have been gathered.

Said IIVBHMOH consists, broadly, in the incorporation in a cleaning ,apparatus of valves, the operation of which is controlledby the vacuum tension in such manner that the contents of the receiving tank will automatically discharge upon the cessation of the operation of the vacuum pump.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1, is a side elevationflof an apparatus of the character in question vembodying the resent invention: Fig. 2 a central sectiona view of the tank and the va-i rious pipes and valvespFig. 3 a detail sec"- tional view of the upper'portion of the ap- V paratus, the section line being taken at right angles with the plane of Fig. 2, and extending to one side in order to include'the water inlet valve, as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the broken line 3 3 in Fig. 4, the central ingress pipe for cleanings being omitted for purposes of clearness, and Fig. 4 a top or plan view as seen when looking downwardly from the broken line 4 4 above Fig. 3.

A com" lete machine with all the parts assembled is illustrated in Fig. 1. A vacuum pump 21 is shown as being driven from an electric motor 22 by a belt 23. The suction pipe 24 from the pump leads to thevacuum chamber, and the discharge air pipe 25 is shown .as leading to within the structure but outside the vacuum chamber. This pipe 25 might lead to atmosphere without im pairing the operation ofuthe machine fund I ticnally, but "leading it to within this 111 closure inuifles the discharge and also disposes of the small amount of water contained in the discharge.

The pump, motor, and connections, being of any ordinary or desired form,vneed not be further described herein. "These, as well as the main body 31, are all mounted iipon a base 20, sothat the machine as .a wholemay be assembled and sold as a unit. It may be remarked that the side of the tank above the electric motor is a convenient place upon which to mount the switch and other electrical control'devices (when an electric motor is used for power), as is shown in Fig. l.

The body 31 has a transverse wall 32 near its upper end which forms the bottom of a water tank of appropriate size. The suction ,pipe 24 leading from the vacuum pump passes through ,this wall and terminates with an open end in the vacuum chamber below, as is best shown'in Fig. 2. It may be here remarked that a small water pipe 26 leads from a suitable point in this vacuum pipe (preferablyjust above the top of the water tank) down into and nearl to the bottom of said water tank, and urnishes the water supply necessary to prime and seal pump 21. The quantity of water which shall be supplied to the pump by this means is controlled by valve 26: Near the lower end of body 31 is another transverse wall 33, preferably hopper-shaped in form, and the cylindrical shell together with these walls 32 and 33 constitute the vacuum chamber. This lower wall 33 has a central discharge opening, and this is controlled by a valve 34 pivotally mounted at 35. Said valve is equipped with a counterweight 36 supported until the operation ceases.

The ingress pipe 41 starts from near the bottom of the tank, preferably just above the valve 34, and leads thence preferably. up-

wardly through wall 32 and thenc e out and away to the point-from whence it is desired to drawthe' waste material or cleanings in the "cleaning operation." The lower end of this pipe 41 is submerged during the cleaning operation, ands. shield-like flange 42 Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

surrounding said lower end serves to assist 'lll properly distrilnitmg the incoming cleanings in the water covering the end of said.

pipe. The upper water-containing tank is supplied by a water ingress pipe 5]. controlled by a valve 5'3 which is operated by a float 33, in a similar manner as common in llushing tanks.

The discharge of water from the water tank into the vacuum chamber by means of a. siphon-like passage 61, the lower end of which opens .trecly into the vacuum chamber, at ('32, and the other end of which, at 63, is controlled by a vertically-movable valve 64'. designed to normally float on the surface ol? the water, and which is guided as it approaches and recedes from the valve-seat by,

guide rods 6:). The operation is, so far as this part. of the apparatus is concerned, when the vacuum pump is set in motion, and the air begins to be exhausted from the 'acuum chan'iber, that the water in the tank will llow lrv means at the siphon-like passage til from said tank into said vacuum chamber until the valve (i l becomes seated. The valve b-t being tirmly seated under the suction exerted by the'vacumn pump, so that the vacuum chamber is completely and elliciently closed, said chamber has meantime received into itself the quantity of water which has just previously been in the water tank above. At this point in the operation the suction becomes strong enough to cflectuate the cleaning operation; and, as will be readily understood, the pump is kept in motion until the desired cleaning has been per torn'ied. hen the pump is stopped, the suction in the vacuumchamber of course ceases, and the valve 3-1, under the weight of the water thereon, will open, discharging the water and the dirt or cleanings which has been gathered into it through the opening in the wall 0.3, whence it runs otl intothe sewer, or to whatever point the construction provides for. D ln the construction shown, a hopper-like receiver 38 is provided with a discharge pipe 39 leading therefrom, and a prelerred arrangement is to have this pipe connectwith a sewer.

.'\s will be readily understood, as soon as the water from the drawn into the vacuum chamber by the means above described, the float 53 will fall, opening valve 52. and'permitting a fresh supply oil water to run into said tank and 2 till it to the limit permitted by the lloat 53. This will. however. remain shut ott From the siphoirlike passage (d so long as the suction in the va uum chamber ontinues, as the valve (i l will be held to its seat at opening 3 h v the force ot the vacuum. .\s soon, hmv-cvcr, as the vacuum torce is disconlinu l. valve ill will heat to the top of the \Ylllt fart: er use. .-'\s will be ol'iserved, all these water tank has been and the apparatus is then ready for of a pump, a vacuum chamber, a connection leading from said pump to said chamber, a tank having a predetermined water supply arranged adjacent to said chamber, a pastrom said chamber to said tank through which the supply of water Will be drawn upon application of vacuum tension, a valve for closing said passage when the contents of the tank have been discharged and which will be held in. said position so long as the vacuum tension continues, a water supply pipe to said tank. a valve in said pipe operated to be closed by the filling of the tank and opened by the discharge thereof, a cleanings" pipe extending to within said chamber, and a valve to said chamber adapted to be held closed by the vacuum tension and to open by gravity when said tension is released.

2. The combination, in a. vacuum cleaner, of a pump, a vacuum chamber, a. connection leading from said pump to said chamber, a cleanings pipe leading from said vacuum chamber, a tank for a predetermined water supply, a water-inlet valve interposed between said tank and the vacuum chamber,-

an automatically operating valve for controlling the supply of water to'said tank, a valve controlling the exit passage to said chamber, the water-inlet valve and the exitpassage controlling valve being arranged to be closed by the vacuum tension created by the operation ot the pump and to open automatically upon the cessation of such tension.

.5. The combination, in a vacuum cleaner,

of a vacuum chamber, apump, a connection from said pump to said chamber, a pipe for conveying the cleanings into said vacuum chamber, a discharge valve to said vacuum chamber adapted to be held closed by the vacuum and to open by gravity when the vacuum tension is released, a. water tank for supplying water .to the vacuum chamber, a valve between said tank and said chamber arranged to be held closed by the vacuum tension created by the operation of the pump and to open auton'iatically upon the cessation of such tension.

4. The combination with the vacuum chamber of a vacuum cleaner, of a water tank arranged adjacent to said .vacuum chamber, a siphon-like passage leading from near the. bottom of the Water tank to said vacuum chamber, a float. valve for controlling the ingress opening to said siphonlike passage adapted to be held closed by the vacuum tension and when released to float upon the water in the tank, and means for supplying the tank With Wittej'.

5. The combination, in a vaeuuin cleaner, of a vacuum chamber. a vacuum nunp, a connection between said pump and said elannber, an ingress pipe for. leading the cleanings to said vacuum ehamber, a water supply for said varuuni chamber into which the incoming cleanings \villlle precipitated,

. a valve for controlling the 'diseliarge openingflto said chamber adapted to he held elosed by the vaenum tension therein and to open by gravity, a Water tank positioned above the vacuum ehalnber, a. discharge passage from said tank to said chamber controlled by a valve arranged to be held closed by the vaeuum tension and to be opened when sueh tension is released by floating upon the incoming water thereto.'saitl valve,-

21. water supply pipe to said tank, and a float valve rontrolling said water supply pipe.

(3. The combination, in a varuum cleaner, of a vaeanm r-hamber, t vacuum pump, a eonneetion between vsaid pump and said ehaniber, an ingress pipe for leading the (leanings to said varuiun eluu'nber, a Water supply for said vacuum elnunber into which the incoming "leanings will be precipitated, and a valve for controlling: the discharge ()ltiee.

[SEA L. j

Correction in Letters Patent No. 971,59

the assignee was erroneously given as t the said Letters Patent should be read with this closed by the vacuum tension therein and to open by gravity, a Water supply tank for supplying the Water to the vacuum chamber,

a passage from said tank to said chamber, a valve for controlling said passage, said valve being held closed by the vacuum ten sion and opened the water in the tank when the vacuum tension is released.v

T. The con'ibination, in a vacuum cleaner, ol a vacuum chamber, a. vacuum pump, a water supply tank above said vacuum chamher, a eonnertion leading from said vacuum chamber to above said water tank and thenee to said. pump, a valve at the lower end of the vaeuunrchamber for diseharging the eontents thereof adapted to be closed by the vacuum tension and to be opened by gravity, a connection from the water tank to the vacuum chamber, and a valve controlling said connection adapted to he closed when the vacuum tension draws the Water from said water tank'into said vacuum chamber and to open when the tension in the vacuum chamber is released.

In witness whereof, We have hereunto'set our hands and seals at Connersville, Indiana, this sixteenth day of December, A. D. one thousandnine hundred and nine.

ARCHER E. CLIFTON. [L s.]

VVOR-TH WV. PRESTON. [11. 5.] Witnesses Josnen M. WILKIN,

RUBY Primers.

ebv certified that in Letters Patent No. 971,595, granted October 4, 1910, Archer E. Clifton, and Worth W. Preston, 0t Connersville,

u I u 1- V I n I improvement in "Vaeunin-Lleanels, the State of incorporation of New YOYkJiWhGXQHS said State should have coi'i'eetion therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 3d day of Januhry, A. 1)., 19 11.

E. .BaMOORE,

Commssioner of Patents.

(3. The combination, in a vacuum cleaner, of a vacuum chamber, vacuum pump, a connection bctwccn vsaid pump and said chamber, an ingress pipe for leading the cleanings to said vacuum chzn'nber, a Water supply for said vacuum chamber into which the incoming leanings will bc precipitated, and a valve for controlling" the discharge our hands and seals at Connersville, Indiana, this sixteenth day of December, A. D. one thousandnine hundred and nine.

ARCHER E. CLIFTON. L. s.] VVOR-TH XV. PRESTON. [11. 5.] Witnesses Josnen M. WILKIN, RUBY Primers.

from near the. bottom of the Water tank to opening to said chamber adapted to beheld said vacuum chamber, a float. valve for conclosed by the vacuum tension therein and troliing the ingress opening to said siphonto open by gravity, a Water supply tank for like passage adapted to be held closed by supplying the Water to the vacuum chamber,

5 the vacuum tension and when released to a passage from said tank to said chamber, a

float upon the water in the tank, and means valve for controlling said passage, said 40 for supplying the tank with watcw valve being held closed by the Vacuum ten 5. The combination, in a vacuum cleaner, sion and opened the water in the tank of a vacuum chamber. a vacuum nunp, a when the vacuum tension is released,v

n connection between said pump and said 7. The, con'ibination, in a vacuum cleaner,

chamber, an ingress pipe for leading the ot' a vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump, a cleanings to said vacuum chambcr, a water i water supply tank above said vacuum chamsupply for said vacuum chamber into which i her, a connection leading from said vacuum the incoming cleanings \villbc prccipitatcd, chamber to above said water tank and a valvc for controlling the discharge openl thcncc to said pnmp, a valve at the lower ingyto said chambcr adapted to be held end of thc vacuunrchamber for discharging 5G closed by the vacuum tcnsion thcrcin and the contents thereof adapted to be closed by to opcn by gravity, a water tank positioned the vacuum tension and to be opened by above the vacuum chambcr, a discharge pasgravity, a connection from the water tank 20 sage from said tank to said chamber conto the vacuum chamber, and a valve controlled by a valve arranged to be held closed trolling said connection adapted to be by the vacuum tension and to be opened closed when the vacuum tension draws the when such tension is released by floating Water from said WiltQI tank'into said Vacuupon the incoming water thereto.'said valve,- um chamber and to open when the tension 25 a water supply pipe to said tank, and a float in the vacuum chamber 1S released.

valvc controlling said water supply pipe. In witness whereof, We have hereunto'set i It is hereby cortitiod that in Letters Patent No. 971,595, granted October 4, 1910, i i k I upon the application of Archer E. Clifton, and Worth W. Preston, 0t Connersville,

- .a 1 a: Indiana. for an improvement in Vacuum-blowers, the State of incorporation of p x A; v. I hould have the assignee was erroneously givcn d N 9 Wherea5 bald State S l n o'iven as New JWA and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent [SEAI E. .BLMOORE,

Commssioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 971,59

Correction in Letters Patent No. 971,59

It is hereby vel'titim! thul in Lebtvn lalent Nu. UTLbSJF), grunLed October 4, 1910, upon the application 0f Al'l'lltl ll. CIH'Hm, and Worth W. Preston, 01 Connersville, hnlinnn, I'm" an impmwlnvnt in Vmnnmilearners? Lhe State of incorporation of the assignee \vzh erroneously gin-n m New York." whereas said State should have been given as Nun Jwmy, and that the mid Letters Patent should be read with this ('01l'ULtiUll therein that the sameinuy conform to the record of the case in the Patent 3 ()(Uce.

I Signed and sealed this 35d day of January, A. 1)., 1H1! E. B. MOORE,

(11m 'mz'ss'ionm' of Patents. 

